Cascais, Portugal: Azzurra, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's new TP52 set to compete in the prestigious Audi MedCup circuit, was today officially baptised by godmother PrincessZahra Aga Khan.

During the ceremony, a second Audi-sponsored vessel, the French-German collaboration All4One, was also present, together with special guest, actor Jean Reno.

After the bottle of champagne had been smashed on the prow and the traditional photographs taken, the crew of Audi Azzurra Sailing Team boarded the boat for some sailing on the waters off Cascais.

The Audi MedCup circuit officially begins tomorrow, 17th May local time, with a Training Race, while racing proper will begin the following day.

PrincessZahra Aga Khan declared: "It is moving for me to be the godmother of a new vessel bearing the name Azzurra, as it brings back memories of unique moments when the challenge for the America's Cup, launched by the YCCS, inspired a passion for sailing that had never been seen in Italy up until then.

Today's Azzurra, thanks to her owner YCCS member Alberto Roemmers, inherits the spirit of that challenge and the more recent ones in the Louis Vuitton Trophy, and brings the YCCS burgee to the Audi MedCup."

Riccardo Bonadeo, Commodore of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda commented: "Today is the beginning of a new adventure for Azzurra, a name that contributed to many Italians falling in love with sailing and with our seas.

“In 1983, PrincessZahra Aga Khan's mother was Azzurra's godmother, and now the Princess is carrying on the tradition after having baptised the two VOR60 boats that participated in the round the world race in 2000, one of which had an all-female crew.

“After Azzurra's winning return in 2009 in the Louis Vuitton Trophy, we are here today at the start of the Audi MedCup knowing that we are competing at the highest level of professional sailing.

“We would like to thank our partner Audi, in particular Lothar Korn and Michael Frisch, and Alberto Roemmers, owner of the TP52 Azzurra, for having brought the name of Azzurra and the burgee of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda to this new adventure."

52 Super Series - PrincessZahra Aga Khan baptises the new Azzurra
by Azzurra Sailing Team May 22, 2015, 22:57:00

Azzurra’s baptism was held today in Valencia after the day’s races were over and the PrincessZahra Aga Khan did the christening. Ran is at the head of the provisional overall results while Azzurra is in fifth place.

The most important event today at the Ford Vignale Valencia Sailing Week was after the racing was over, back in port by the famous Veles e Vents building: Azzurra’s official christening. The boat was first christened in March in Valencia where she was built, at the Port America’s Cup. This technical launch was followed by her winning test run at PalmaVela and now her official racing debut in the 52 Super Series 2015. Today the PrincessZahra Aga Khan baptized the third TP52 named Azzurra, heiress to two previous versions and their winning sporting pedigrees.

Azzurra’s owners, the Roemmers family, and top board members of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda were present along with many guests including representatives of all of the other boats competing in the 52 Super Series. At 5:30 PM the Princess broke a bottle of Dom Perignon on Azzurra’s bow on the first try: a good sign for the rest of the boat’s career. The following cocktail saw members of all the teams in the competition happily enjoying the party together.

On the water, Azzurra sailed well without being able to profit fully from the skill and agility shown during maneuvers. Two excellent starts were followed by some unlucky turns of events including a penalty that was harsher than it should have been. Azzurra placed fifth and eighth in today’s races and is fifth overall. Ran is first followed by Alegre and Sled.

Quotes of the day

Owner Pablo Roemmers: “On the water we could have done better, we got a penalty called a bit late and it cost us dearly because we had the kite up already. But definitely the highlight of the day was the christening. We’re extremely happy that the PrincessZahra Aga Khan came to christen the third Azzurra and that’s all we needed. Now we have no excuse: we expect to have good performances.”

Skipper Guillermo Parada: “I think for sure that today is a very important day. Friday, May 22nd will be a day that we remember for a long time. We christened the boat so we expect that to bring us a bit of good luck and we feel that we’ll be lucky for the rest of the week and hopefully we can put everything together. We’re happy, we feel that today we sailed a lot better and things are starting to click. Unfortunately a couple of situations didn’t let us get the results we were expecting, but overall we’re confident and looking to the future with hope.”

YCCS Commodore Riccardo Bonadeo: “Having the PrincessZahra Aga Khan baptize Azzurra is the continuation of a tradition for us. In the ‘80s her mother baptized the versions of Azzurra that competed in the America’s Cup, her daughter has baptized the latest versions of Azzurra, boats that have the same name, sporting spirit and values as the previous versions and that now race in the 52 Super Series. We haven’t yet lived up to our full potential, but we’re sure to get there soon. Once again, I have to thank the Roemmers family for the opportunity they have given us in this boat and all of Azzurra’s crew for the hard work they put in every day.”

As always, you can follow the regattas in real time via Virtual Eye on our website News direct from the regatta course will be posted on Azzurra’s Facebook page and Twitter account. Registered journalists can find copyright-free high res images for publication in the press area of the website.

Is Aga Khan’s £200m superyacht making an appearance tomorrow in Plymouth waters?

By WMN DavidWells | Posted: July 19, 2016

ALAMSHAR-1

The Alamshar pictured in 2014

A £200-million superyacht owned by multi-millionaire the Aga Khan could be making a sneak appearance outside of its base at Devonport Dockyard in a project shrouded in secrecy.

The 164ft palatial vessel, named the Alamshar after the royal prince's retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse, has been in the hands of Babcock International which completed the luxury yacht in 2014.

AIS MaritimeTraffic plots the movements of the vessel

It is not known what works are being carried out on the superyacht, which is powered by six gas turbines in six engines of a type favoured by the Norwegian Navy and supported by state-of-the-art technology but the vessel has been manoeuvred around various units in the dockyard over the last few days.

Shipping movements suggest the Alamshar will be moved from base to alongside in the evening on Thursday, July 20.

The Aga Khan, whose full title is His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, is the current Imam and religious leader of Ismaili Muslims, with an estimated 15 million followers in more than 25 countries and he is a British citizen, although his family does not preside over any country or geographic territory.

He is the head of a multi-million pound horse-racing and breeding operation and once owned the infamous racehorse Shergar, which was stolen by gunmen in Ireland in the 1980s and never seen again.

The building of the yacht - named Project 305 – was commissioned in the 1990s in the hope that it might break the world speed record for superyachts as well as beat the transatlantic record of two days, 10 hours and 34 minutes.

However, the boat returned to the dockyard six years ago after sea trials off Plymouth showed it could reach between 30 knots and 45 knots (51.7mph) but had not then managed the desired record speeds.

Babcock is under a strict confidentiality agreement with the owner and cannot release information about the vessel and work it might undergoing, despite requests from reporters in the past.

It is one of several superyachts designed and built at the dockyard or which have made a visit to the waters of Plymouth.

Back in 2014, rumours began sailing around the Aga Khan's purchase after he originally came to pick it up at the beginning of July.

The yacht was intended to be a superstar among superyachts and according to previous statements by Babcock and the Aga Khan, the project faced challenging mechanical targets.

A statement in 2014 on the company website, said: "Babcock's experience in supporting the Royal Navy surface and submarine fleet, together with its announced ability to develop industrial processes for the fabrication of the unusually light weight, high strength structure into which would be incorporated an innovative, in fact, first ever for civilian vessels, all gas turbine propulsion system, were all important factors in its selection.

"The state-of-the-art shipbuilding and systems integration technology required to deliver the vessel to specification would have doubtless proved demanding even if employed in a commercial or military vessel."

Guests aboard the yacht can expect the highest standards of comfort and luxury, with an exceptionally comfortable ride due to the gas turbine design.

The manufacturer suggests that the design eliminates all mechanical vibration, and counters the effects of pitch and roll.

It is not known why the superyacht is being brought alongside in the base out of one of the giant ship-building units, or if it will be visible to the public gaze but shipping movement tracking websites such as AIS MarineTraffic show that the superyacht has been moved around inside the dockpart frequently over the last few days.

The Aga Khan's Plymouth-built superyacht Alamshar is back at Devonport, two years after the Muslim leader collected her.

Babcock Marine's Devonport yard was commissioned to build the £200 million vessel in 1998.

Built under a veil of secrecy, the Alamshar was intended to be a superstar among super-yachts with a top speed of 70 knots (80mph), but soon sailed into choppy waters.

Babcock now lists her speed as "in excess of 45 knots".

Work on Alamshar started in December 1998 and she was originally launched in 2003. A series of setbacks – from a fire in 2006 to numerous engine reconfigurations – extended her delivery date until July 2014.

The Aga Khan, leader of the world's 12 million Ismaili Muslims, commissioned the 164ft yacht in the hope that it might break the world speed record for super-yachts as well as beat the transatlantic record of two days, 10 hours and 34 minutes.

In 2014 it was rumoured that he flew into Plymouth by helicopter to pick up his purchase.

Alamshar was designed by Donald Blount and Associates. Six gas turbines, by Pratt and Whitney and Rolls Royce, power three waterjets.

She is designed to be quiet and vibration-free for a comfortable ride.

The proposal launched by the Federation of Maritime Agents took hold: a pact between operators to monitor the pollution of seas and oceans

PORTO CERVO. PrincessZahra Aga Khan is among the supporters of the alliance against the plastic islands and the pilot project "The Sentinels of Plastic", launched by the Federation of Maritime Agents. The announcement arrives at the opening of the second day of the possible luxury forum, at the Cervo conference center. Through a message, the daughter of the founder of the Costa Smeralda communicates her commitment and that of the One Ocean Foundation - a project of global scope that starts from the Costa Smeralda intends to spread throughout the world to combat the pollution of the oceans - to support initiatives in this field.

Federagenti tightens the alliance with yacht companies, cruise companies, marinas and Fedepiloti, for a sentinel and alert service along the Italian coasts. The proposal is from the yacht section, led by Giovanni Gasparini. «It is a pact between seafarers: crews and ship controls will be involved in monitoring and reporting in real time the concentration of plastic waste, in parallel cruise ship companies, shipping companies that provide ferry connection services with islands and companies leasing and management of yacht fleets will undertake to raise awareness of their passengers on an issue that risks becoming a Mediterranean emergency every day ».

They have joined: Grandi Navi Veloci; the Silversea cruise group; Italian Nautical, the president Lamberto Tacoli has connected with Porto Cervo from the Versilia Yachting Rendez vous together with the vice president of Altagamma, Armando Branchini; Moby-Tirrenia; Grandi Navi Veloci and the Presidency of the association of Medcruise cruise ports, as well as Fedepiloti. On all these issues of sustainability and defense of the marine environment, Federagenti, led by Gian Enzo Duci, confirmed
for another two years as president, it seems to have assumed a leading role in the field, through its territorial presence in Sardinia, where Giancarlo Acciaro was called to the presidency, and thanks to the preferential relationship with the general command of the Capitanerie. (W.b)

Azzurra wins and shows her promise at PalmaVela
by Azzurra 7 May 00:38 EST 2-6 May 2018

he boat flying the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's burgee won the only race run today, the final day at PalmaVela, which was a test event in view of the upcoming 52 Super Series. Azzurra will be officially baptised by the PrincessZahra Aga Khan on May 21st.

The 2018 season couldn't have gotten off to a better start for Azzurra, who won at her debut event, PalmaVela, which was a test event in view of the upcoming 52 Super Series that will begin in Šibenik, Croatia on May 22nd. Azzurra lead the TP52 Class right from the first race at this event, where she placed first for good measure. During this four day long event Azzurra was always in the lead, even though yesterday Platoon and Quantum, the most competitive teams for last year, almost caught up to her.

Today the fleet had to wait until 2 PM before the Racing Committee began racing in winds from the southwest that were at 15 knots early on, but then died down to 11. Azzurra got a spectacular start, fast on the left on the pin while the rest of the fleet fought it out to get the best position on the Committee Boat. As soon as she was over the starting line Azzurra crossed ahead to the fleet on port tack. Only Platoon and Gladiator, who had sought out the right hand corner of the course, weren't controlled by Azzurra. Platoon, especially, was a risk to Azzurra when approaching the first upwind mark. The YCCS boat controlled the rest of the race, lengthening her advantage on the others. Along the last downwind run, some of her adversaries changed positions in the shifty breezes, but Azzurra reigned. Sled and Quantum regained positions to second and third places passing Platoon, who finished fourth and lost her second place position overall to Quantum.

The tuning of the boat and the entire team's hard work and training, begun from the moment the boat was launched in mid-March, are paying off. But no one of Azzurra's competitors is going to be sitting on their hands from now until the Series begins.

Azzurra and the other TP52s are now heading over to Šibenik, Croatia where the 52 Super Series, monohull sailings most competitive event, will begin on May 22nd. This latest version of Azzurra, the fourth TP52 to bear this glorious name, will be baptised as is tradition by the PrincessZahra Aga Khan on May 21st., the eve of the beginning of the new season.

Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Commodore Riccardo Bonadeo had these words: "What a start! Congratulations to all for this wonderful win. We know just how competitive and difficult the upcoming season will be and Azzurra is the 52 Super Series defending champion. But surely this win is a good sign. We know that this team never rests, so we hope it'll just get better. Thanks to everyone and especially to the Roemmers family, our club members and Azzurra's owners."

Guillermo Parada, skipper: "We are happy of course but it wasn't an easy win by any means. The wind conditions were very, very challenging but Santi did a good job picking the side and we had a good start and were able to cross the fleet on port and were able to control it. We're happy because today our performance in light air was competitive and we were able to hold our edge. But the teams that were strong last year are still strong and the season is long, but obviously this is a good beginning."

Santiago Lange, tactician: "I'm happy, we all are, especially because this morning there was pressure on us to perform, but it's always good to have pressure. The team has been working very hard over the winter and they did awesome work to get the boat ready. Everything is so well organised that I'd hate to be the one that makes a mistake. It's all about keeping learning: just because we won this event doesn't mean we're all set for the season, it's all about staying focused and keeping on working hard."